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Tuition Policy Advisory Committee
Report of Meetings
2003 September 8-October 3
President Faulkner established the Tuition Policy Advisory
Committee (TPAC) to recommend to the President on a three-year
rolling basis the amount of the University’s core
tuition needed to address the budget forecast. It is intended
that the Committee make specific tuition recommendations
(undergraduate and graduate) for the year immediately
ahead and tentative recommendations for the two subsequent
years. Immediate work concentrated on revenue, expenses,
and tuition recommendations for the spring summer and
fall semesters of 2004. These later recommendations are
expected to be presented to the UT Austin President on
October 7, 2003.
The committee consists of nine voting members and two
advisors. The four student members consist of an undergraduate
student each sponsored by the Student Government and Senate
of College Councils, an undergraduate student from the
campus at large appointed by President Faulkner, and a
graduate student sponsored by the Graduate Student Assembly.
Other members are listed on the TPAC Homepage.
Meetings 1-8, September 2-23 concentrated on financial
fact finding to provide a common understanding on the
financial numbers of the university budgets. (Meeting
6, September 17, was canceled.) The financial community
provided various views of University revenue and expenses
and members asked questions until they understood the
numbers. In some cases formats and views of the revenue
and expenses were changed to make the numbers more understandable.
After the eighth meeting some committee members built
a Website to present the numbers discussed to the university
community--faculty, staff, and students. Meeting 9,m September
24, consisted of the university community forum, in the
University Teaching Center. The forum consisted of a ten
minutes presentation on the committee progress so far
followed by question and answers. The committee took notes
on concerns and incorporated those concerns in the discussions
in meetings 10-12. Written comments from the university
community received from the Website and emails were distributed
to all members for consideration prior to the meetings..
Meetings 10-12, September 23- October 3, focused on affordability
and other concerns of the various groups of students.
At meeting 11, October 1, the financial aid folks provided
the committee an overview of the UT financial aid program
and options allowed under Texas and Federal law. Various
alternatives were considered to keep financial impact
to students to a minimum, bring university revenue in
line with expenses, and establish a baseline for the future.
Discussion focused on spring, summer, and fall semesters
2004, although consideration was given to the future impact
on students and the finances of the university of various
alternative baselines.
The committee plans to develop final recommendations
for President Faulkner at Meeting 13, October 6, and present
them during Meeting 14, October 7. Future meetings include
two presentations to the university community. The committee
intends to continue to meet to consider any additional
concerns that students, faculty and staff may provide,
and to develop estimates for the future semesters.
Additional information on committee meetings and copies
of briefing slides are provided on the TPAC Meetings Webpage
Don Drumtra, GSA
Graduate Student Representative
to the tuition Policy Advisory Committee
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